Characteristics and natural history of autonomic involvement in hereditary ATTR amyloidosis: a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Autonomic dysfunction is a hallmark feature of hereditary ATTR amyloidosis. The aim of this study was to summarize the characteristics and natural history of autonomic dysfunction in patients with hereditary ATTR amyloidosis. METHODS: A systematic review of the natural history and clinical trials of patients with ATTR amyloidosis was performed. Alternative surrogate markers of autonomic function were analyzed to understand the prevalence and outcome of autonomic dysfunction. RESULTS: Patients with early-onset disease displayed autonomic dysfunction more distinctively than those with late-onset disease. The nutritional status and some autonomic items in the quality-of-life questionnaires were used to assess the indirect progression of autonomic dysfunction in most studies. Gastrointestinal symptoms and orthostatic hypotension were resent earlier than urogenital complications. Once symptoms were present, their evolution was equivalent to the progression of the motor and sensory neuropathy impairment. CONCLUSION: The development of autonomic dysfunction impacts morbidity, disease progression, and mortality in patients with hereditary ATTR amyloidosis.